LAWRENCE — To begin with, Trent Johnson deadpanned. Then, the TCU basketball coach told a little fib. And within the context of all that, he made a declaration.

This all came during postgame Saturday in Allen Fieldhouse. In-game, Johnson had no moves he could make to derail Kansas, which prompted his opening remark.

“Obviously they were upset. I don’t know what for,’’ Johnson said.

Johnson didn’t smile, though he managed to draw a few laughs. Kansas, of course, happened to be intent on avenging its most inexplicable regular-season defeat under Bill Self, a coach who climbed within one victory of getting his 500th career win as the Jayhawks pounded the Horned Frogs, 74-48.

The outcome did little to explain how Kansas suffered a 62-55 loss at TCU earlier this month.

To which Johnson told his fib: “I don’t even remember much of what happened (except) I understand we won that game.’’

As for the declaration Johnson made, it too concerned the Jayhawks: “Kansas is right. They’re right.’’

Maybe as right as they were wrong in the first meeting. You remember watching in dismay as KU netted just three field goals while scoring 13 first-half points. To atone for that disaster, it limited the Frogs to nine first-half points on 4-for-23 shooting, while holding all five of TCU’s starters scoreless over those first 20 minutes.

The half began with an 11-0 spurt by KU and ended with an 18-0 run. Both times Johnson called time out in the first half, his team lined up and committed turnovers by failing to get the ball in-bounded.

“At our place, we played extremely well and they helped us a lot,’’ said Johnson, “because they had a lot of things going on where they didn’t make shots.’’

In the rematch, Kansas made 49.1 percent of its field goals and made its first 17 free throws before finishing 18 of 19 from the line. All those foul shots were taken in the second half, yet the outcome was decided with crisp, efficient play in the first half.

“That’s as focused as we’ve been on both ends,’’ Self said.

During preparations, there was no special review of the previous game. Each of the Jayhawks was embarrassed enough handing TCU its only Big 12 win back on Feb. 6. Self does not anticipate using that stinker as motivation down the line, either.

TCU can provide them for just about any opponent. The only time it has cracked the 60-point mark during conference play was in that upset of KU along Frog Alley. Otherwise, the Big 12 newcomer has struggled mightily under its first-year coach.

For his part, Johnson appreciated the opportunity presented Saturday. He and his team toured the facility and viewed tributes to James Naismith and Phog Allen, while learning of KU legends such as Jo Jo White and Wilt Chamberlain.

Fitting, really. Saturday happened to be the 115th-year celebration for KU hoops, which was attended by roughly 200 former players. White was among those at the reunion, along with his coach, Ted Owens.

The Jayhawks were aware who was watching and realized another letdown against TCU was unacceptable.

“We knew we had to beat these guys by a lot to prove ourselves to the older guys,’’ said center Jeff Withey, who led KU with 18 points. “It’s just great to have everybody come back and support you. That’s what makes Kansas Kansas.’’

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